The votes may be there in the senate to end the shutdown. Durbin took to the floor of the senate to argue Leader McConnell is afraid to call the bill for the sake of his own future as leader.

“I am concerned that the majority leader, Sen McConnell, has made it clear that he’s waiting for a permission slip from President Trump to be the leader of the United States Senate. We are a separate and proud branch of government. We are given authority under this constitution that the president does not have. We do not wait for a permission slip from him to exercise that constituional authority.”

Durbin’s artful argument is debatable but it’s his latest attempt to try to shame the Republicans into action.